barriers
The limited range, higher cost, and lack of four-wheel
drive options among currently available electric vehicles
limits their attractiveness to many North Country residents.
Regardless of fuel type, personal transportation energy
use, GHG emissions, and its associated costs will be reduced
to the extent that the region is successful in promoting
alternative means of transportation to single occupancy
use vehicles, and developing land use policies that result in
more people living closer to community centers, especially
the elderly who would benefit from better access to services
and neighbors. Increased telecommuting, which may be
encouraged by the continued expansion of broadband
service, can also reduce household transportation energy
consumption to the extent that not commuting to work
reduces total household trips and vehicle miles traveled.

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For bus and human services transportation, the
cost to install CNG fueling infrastructure, purchase
new vehicles, and make necessary changes to service
bays typically runs into the millions of dollars. While
new models for financing and cost sharing are being
developed, installation of sufficient infrastructure may
take years, and in many cases there is a more pressing
need to secure adequate funding to maintain current
fleets and staffing levels. More immediate options are the
use of diesel/electric hybrids or the purchase of smaller
buses, shuttles and vans, which require less infrastructure
investment and offer more flexibility for bus routing.
In a July 2012 presentation titled “Broadband for New
York’s Economic Recovery – The North Country Region,”
several barriers were cited, including the expenses associated
with the final connections within the jurisdiction (Last Mile
Expense), the low population density of the region, and the
low adoption rate of broadband by the population. Other
factors cited included taxes, pole attachment fees, and the
challenging geography of the region (NYSOFT 2009).